When I was asked to share my good friend Bonnie Hunter's Book 'String Frenzy' during her book tour I said heck yes! I've been sewing strips of extra fabric, strings of fabric, together for many years.
Bonnie has such a wonderful eye for combining scraps into very effective quilts! You will love her book. So let's see what I selected to work on.
** BUY a String Frenzy for 20% off! **
I decided that I have a LOT of neutrals that are just not getting used. Some are pretty big pieces, others are 1/2 a layer cake square, or a part of a fat quarter that was left.
I decided that Bonnie's gorgeous 'Indigo-a-Go-Go' would use up the most lights. She make this quilt to use her African Indygo prints. It really stretched those into a full size quilt with this pattern!
I've been making these type of strip units almost since I started quilting. I did one great big project that was part of a challenge and then toured to different shows a few yrs ago. It's very zen like to sew strips like this, I really love it! Another reason I was drawn to this quilt was the fact that I got to sew these units.
Because I want my strips to stay in the background, I'm using fabrics that read tonal and don't have a lot of other colors in them
Article continues below this Ad
As I had left over strips, I sew units to it to be used in the next strip unit, see below, it is an excellent way to use up leftovers!
I am EXCITED to use that strip of 'An American In Paris', I've had it awhile.
I decided to go with the pinky/red Figtree and the aqua Figtree fabrics. I have quite a bit of each and love them as a combo.
Lay out all the blocks so you like the placement.
Note that the direction of the strips in the aqua blocks. Some are horizontal and some vertical string placement.
This little surprise is why I love doing these type of quilts!
I have the top of my office assistant loaded up with this project. That way I can pull it up next to my Baby lock Solaris!
See how nice my Koala Studio table is, I love that my machine sits flush with the top and I have a comfy Koala chair to sit in.
I've decided the best way to do this is to make these 9-patch blocks.
I'll mix and match the red and aqua in the blocks so that when I set them the Figtree fabrics will be scattered around. And it's more motivating to me to sew these big 9-patch blocks as I go rather than waiting until the end.
The book has 12 quilts and tips of how to use your scraps. I love Bonnie's stories about each quilt too!
This is another of my favorites in her book, the pumpkin patch.. do you have a lot of orange to use up?
And Dawn's Early Light is so gorgeous with red/white & blue.
** BUY yourself String Frenzy, you'll love it! **
GIVEAWAY – Leave me a comment telling me
Do you save scraps?
leave the comment by 6pm April 11.
Winner is Nancy P who said "Yes I save my scraps, but now I have added saving scrap squares – thank you Pat Sloan. After being inspired by you, I now have baskets of 2, 2 1/2, 3 and 4 inch scrap fabric squares."
Book Tour:
- Friday, 4/5: C&T Publishing at ctpub.com/blog
- Saturday, 4/6: Pat Sloan at ilovetomakequilts.com
- Sunday, 4/7: Sandra Clemons at makeitblossomdesigns.com
- Monday, 4/8: Susan Arnold at quiltfabrication.com
- Tuesday, 4/9: Bernie Kringel at needleandfoot.com
- Wednesday, 4/10: Bonnie Hunter at quiltville.blogspot.com
CLICK to read the legal sweepstakes stuff I'm required to tell you.
895 Responses
Most of my quilts are scrap quilts. I do save scraps
Do I save scraps? Ha ha ha! (Insert hysterical laughter here.) ….. Yes. Kinda of like wire hangers and unmatched socks, those scrap piles just keep growing no matter what!
I’m still saving scraps but this could just be the book I need to get using them
Do I have a scraps, hell ya eleven years worth.
Do I save scraps? Of course I do! You could have even asked if I dig into the fabric trash bags at quilt classes and retreats. I do that too. I really need to make a strip quilt. I love Bonnie’s cover quilt.
Of course I save scraps! I have madozens if string quilts to donate to all the disaster relief programs. They all look so cheerful which I know people need at some of the worst times in their lives.
I have scraps, Boy, do I have scraps!!! I keep thinking I will do something with them as I make them. Maybe today will be a fresh start!
Yes, I save scraps, and have used a few on other projects later. Have not been quilting very long, so my stash is not large.
I do save scraps but never seen to have enough of the color I’m using!
Yes, and I save way too many! But, after watching your fireside chat, with your basket of 2.5” squares and seeing how you can quickly sew a few strips together, I started cutting last night. I now have two trays, one solid and one prints stacked by color! And I still have a ton of scraps left to do! I also decided that when I’m done with a quilt, that after it’s binding, I will cut up my leftovers for use!
I have several buckets of scraps. Play with them for color inspiration and they have often been just what I was looking for when working on a quilt.
I have tons of scraps. I, too, have been sewing strips and parts together for years. I have friends that give me BIG plastic bags of scraps. A soon as I finish the current projects, scrappy is up next. Time to whittle those boxes down to manageable. Yeah! like that will happen. I swear that yardage gets together in the middle of the night and makes fat quarters…lol
Well, that question made me laugh right out loud! Do I save scraps?? I save scraps and I have been organizing my scraps as you suggested, Pat. But I haven’t yet tried stringing my scraps.
I have many scraps. I save anything that is one inch square or larger because I do a lot of mini quilts.
I do save my scraps, I don’t have a lot but it’s a start. Never knew what I would do with them tho.
I love to use scraps.
I do have scraps. I don’t like wasting thread so I sew a lot of scraps together as leader enders and square them up to make cat mats for a local shelter or for use as placemats for home.
Yes I save scraps and have spent quite a bit of time this winter in their organization. Now I just need to use them!😏
I save EVERYTHING no matter how small! Growing up we always saved scraps even if it was to stuff a pillow!
I save scraps and like to make quilts to donate to Quilts for Kids. I donated 23 last year. Making baby/kids quilts is a fast and fun way to use up scraps.
I love making scrappy sampler quilts
I love scraps and have 3 containers for them.
I save all scraps!
Scraps! Did you say scrapes? I have a 15 year collection. This year I decided to use my scraps. I started with just my fall collection, so far 3 quilts (1 Jenny Doan and 2 from the Big Book of Scraps] and I made a dent in the fall, I have plans for many more[the brights on grey backgrounds, the batiks on black…….
Yes, I definitely save scraps. I used to be “matchy matchy” but now I find that quite boring. The last quilt I made was 100% from scraps (except for the backing). My husband has been finding all kinds of neat things in the neutrals. Kind of like Where’s Waldo! Love the blocks you’ve shown here.
Yes I save all my scraps! It is amazing to see how little fabric it takes to make pieced blocks and how almost “anything goes”. Love all fabrics, colors, and textures and love scrappy quilting. I have “String Frenzy” and have just finished piecing blocks for Sand Castles—I love it!
Love mindless sewing. And I love stringy, scrappy quilts, they are my favorite.
Love your color choices Pat. String quilts are a favorite of mine. Since I found Bonnie I am hooked. Scraps rule around here.
Do I have scraps? What a question to ask a quilter. I think I could probably insulate my house with the scraps/stash I have. Just need to get on a roll and use them! I like your ideas!
I love scraps! I grew up sleeping under a scrap quilt and I guess it just sunk in. I use Bonnie Hunter’s scrap system and also colorize my string scraps. I love your color choices for your string quilt. Gorgeous!
I save many scraps unless they seem too small to use.
I am currently sorting my scraps. I have lots and I need them organized. I’m working on a star string quilt. Love all the different colors and style of fabrics.
Oh, boy, do I ever save scraps! In all sorts of sizes, including selvages!
I just did a bunch of scrap busting and put all the string type in the trash. After reading this post I dug them out.
Have bags of scraps. I use them for test blocks so now have tons of blocks in various sizes and colors to some day creative a mixology quilt.
Yes I collect lots of scraps. I recently started organizing my scraps to make it easier to pull from. I have several scrappy projects in the works. I love using scraps to make unique quilts.
I only make scrap quilts since I found Bonnie Hunter and have taught myself to quilt with one of her mystery quilts. I am a fabric-oholic and am organized in my loving collection of them. I love your collection of neutrals…the American in Paris is so fun!
I save very tiny scraps and they are taking ones.
Gosh, lots of scraps here. I am leading a big team to make the ‘heart strings’ blocks. We will create twin size quilts for the new Jeremiah Program house being built in our town. This program helps single young mothers get a college degree along with parenting skills and child care to create a successful life for themselves. Our state adn local quilt show this year will feature ‘sit adn sews’ to make lots of scrap blocks for the house. Bring on those scrap ideas!!
Yes I have scraps. I’m not quite a hoarder – but I have them. And I love them. I’ve been following Bonnie on Instagram. The two of you are QUILTING GOALS for me!
I save scraps. I am a big Bonnie Hunter fan! Love your color choices for this quilt!
I have many scraps of all sizes and shapes that need to be used.
Yes I save scraps and use them as often as I can. While I am usually an ‘order’ type quilter sometimes I surprise myself and do a really scrappy quilt.
I definitely save my scraps. I tend to make small art quilts and postcards (4 x 6] and I use all kinds of small pieces.
I went to a lady’s home to buy the fabric she was getting rid of because she was closing her teaching school. When I told her I made quilts for the Linus Project she promptly gave me all the fabric. And it was a lot and a lot odd shapes. We use 8 in squares at fairs to let children design their own quilts. Point being, I have a lot of scrapes that I try to incorporate into a treasure for a needy child. Thank you for the amazing idea’s here.
Yep, I save scraps but haven’t done much with them. I have some cut into strips and squares but I have a big laundry basket filled with scraps. Some day I’ll go through it and cut down some of them.
I have a basket of scraps. I have been using them with the Accuquilt Go to make tumblers and hexagons.
Yes! I keep scraps and I have cut them in all kinds of strips up to 2 1/2″ and squares up to 5″. They are in totes according to strips or squares. I have not done anything with them after cutting and putting them in the totes🤯😱 I fear the color placement of scraps and whether there is to much one colorway and not enough of other colorways🤯😱🤯😱
I love scraps and scrap quilting!
I save some larger scraps but forget about them when I’m working on a project.